Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-12-29


how he had loved this delicate girl, |
reared in luxury and ease, and vixen he
lost the fortune he had so slowly accumu-
lated he dared not tell her of his love.
He would not ask her to share his poverty
and hardships. He had come away and
staked his life and IN search for gold, and
found it. Yes, now he could clasp his
slender hand in hers and give her all the
riches he possessed in return. Over and
over again he called her name.
Bill softly stroked the brown hair from
his forehead, and as he did SO Rivers said:
st is SO soft-her little hand-itr rests me
to feel it on my head" And he lapsed
again into restless sleep,
'Durn tibet big paw" said Bill, looking
at his rourh brawny hand and then at the
white forehead on the pillow. "Ano ther
amt woman's hand in camp to fix things
easy for him. I'd give the hull bizness if
ne was only out of this Inuss."
But before two hours had elapsed there
was a doctor from Colorado Springs
bending over the sick man, and by the
bedside sat a pale, slender girl, watching
with intense inSrest every motion and
word of the patient, and soothing him
with her little hand holding his. She
came with the doctor. Bill stood inside
the door and looked like a bsshful school
boy in the presence of this stranger, who
seemed to be taking his place and caring
for Rivers when be ought to be doing SO.
Bat he asked no questions, and waited
for the doctors answer.
"Just keep the camp quiet, Bill, and
Miss Lancaster will give the medicine
and see to the rest. He is worn out with
excitement, and a little quiet, with good
nursing, will make things right. If the
fever is no better in six hours let me
know" And that was all the explana
ton Bill got from the doctor.
Was she a professional nurse? Bill
guessed so. And he thought how nice it
would be if he could be sick when Rivers
got well.
The camp was still-Bill had ordered it
so-and every man asked gravely how the
''tender-foot" was, and about the "gal."
| Dunno" was still the answer they got
| to the latter question, and Bill had told
| all he knew when he said that.
Rivers was in serious condition, and
before the SIX hours We're up horseman
dashed out of the camp and after doc
tor. It was Ute Bill. He could not stand
by and hear Rivers moan and see him
toss back and forth in bed. It was too
much. He wasn't used to it. The doctor
had to make another trip-Bill said Riv-
ers was worse.
When the doctor had made an exami-
nation of his patient he declared the
worst was passed, and left Rivers sleep
ing quietly under gentle narcotic.
All this time the girl had not released
her watch by the bedside, and she seem
ed to be soothing away She delirium of
the fever in gently passing her hands
over the sick mans temples. Her eyes
never left off their watch of every move
ment of the ''tenderfoot'a" face, and Bill
stood by wonderipgly, casting turtle
glance at the delicately featured face
bending over his pacd's pillow, and try
ing to solve the problem IN his mind.
Hours passed, and finally, with a loag
sigh, Rivers opened his eyes and looked
at Bill leaning over the foot of the bed
Then his wandering attention was fixed
on the anxious face by his side. There
was no glad cry Of recognition-it was
mutual understanding. All the warmth
of his great love was expressed in the
gentle whispered name Lillian" as he
drew her face to his. Resting her head
on mis- shoulders she told him of the
long years of waiting for tidings from
him, and the hasty letter from Omaha,
which she mad only received few days
before. She had left home, friends,
everything, and gonc to seek him in the
wild west, she knew not where, but she
had found him. And Bill had disap-
peared.
A few days afterward one Of the "pards"
gave up his claim to the little cabin, and
the minister said the ceremony which
linked two lives into g. world of their
own.
Many and hearty were the rough con-
gratulations. That evening the miners
gathered at the little home to say a
word of welcome to the beautiful young
bride. Even if it were spoken by big,
rowdy miner like Bill, there was a genu-
inc ring of manliness about it, and made
her feel quite at home in the wild, pictur-
esque spot SO far from every sign of civ
ilization. AS the men filed out slowly
Rivers conducted his girl wife to the porch
of the rude cabin, and standing close by
his side, she sang one verse of Home,
Sweet Home" The tender, sym pathetic
voice fell on the still night air with
wonderful sweetness, and awak ened many
old memories III the hearts of the rough
coarse miners gathered there.
Heads were uncovered, and there were
tears wiped hastily away as Bill led them
and coarse jests now? No. As each man
raised his glass solemn hush fell upon
the gronp, broken at last by Ute Bills
voice. Il was choked and unnatural.
Boys" he said, Il never had but one
pard, but [ gave him up for the best pard
a man ever got. And I'll never have an
other till get one like his"
Bill sat his glass down and walked away
! abruptly. It was not long until the
saloon was deserted and the camp hushed
in the repose of night.
After that Bill did not seem like his old
self. He was quiet and solemn. He knew
what was the matter, but did not care to
let the boys know where the sunshine had
fallen on his rough heart and then SO
suddenly been swept away.
The Eext spring came and the doctor
made another trip to the little cabin.
When Ute Bill went up the next day
Rivers led him into the dainty bedroom
and gave him peep at the tiny baby
girl that had come that night. The big
| bo, al +IrhAl- bo Of